Hospitality business ideas you can start for up to C$20,000
38 ideas
These 39 hospitality ideas suit people who want to welcome guests, host events or serve food and drink without taking on a full restaurant lease. Some are low-overhead and event-based, such as pop-up tapas nights or a portable escape room for events.
Pop-up afternoon tea
Run booked afternoon tea events in hired halls, galleries or gardens before committing to a full tea room.
- C$1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up dinner theatre series
Produce your own ticketed show nights in a rented hall, with a hired caterer serving the meal.
- C$5k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small seasonal campsite on your own land
Turn spare rural land into a few tent and camper pitches, rented by the night through the summer.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Non-smoking guest suite
Rent a spare suite, basement unit or garden suite to visitors on a strict no-smoking basis.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Furnished apartment for month-long stays
Furnish one or two apartments and rent them with cleaning included to workers, patients and movers staying a few weeks to a few months.
- C$4k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Furnished holiday suite in a unit you own
Furnish a spare condo, suite or basement flat and rent it to visitors by the night.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Holiday apartment in a unit you lease
Lease an apartment with your landlord's written consent and run it as a furnished short-stay rental.
- C$6k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Furnished suite for short and mid-term stays
Rent a basement suite or spare unit you already have to visitors and business travellers, with cleaning and linen included.
- C$2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Pop-up beer garden for events and festivals
Run a temporary outdoor beer and food space at festivals, markets and private events, featuring local craft brewers.
- C$5k-20k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Seasonal holiday house rental
Rent out a cottage, cabin or second home by the night or week during the busy months and keep it for your own use the rest of the year.
- C$1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Short-stay rental of your spare suite
Furnish a basement suite, laneway unit or spare apartment you already have and rent it to visitors by the night.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Weekly club night in a hired venue
Run your own music and dance night in an existing bar or hall before taking on a full venue.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Monthly LGBTQ+ club night
Run a recurring LGBTQ+ dance night in an existing bar or club, without taking on your own lease.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Multi-day guided hiking trips
Plan and lead overnight or week-long hiking trips with lodging or camping included.
- C$3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Single log cabin short-stay rental
Furnish a cabin you own or have access to and rent it nightly to holidaymakers and weekend visitors.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Guided farm tours for day visitors
Show families, school groups and tourists how your working farm runs, with a guided walk and a chance to meet the animals.
- C$1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Farm stay with tour and overnight room
Host guests for a night or weekend in a spare room or cabin, with a tour of the farm and a taste of daily farm life.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Pop-up bartending courses
Teach short cocktail and bar service courses in partner bars and rented spaces, without paying for your own premises.
- C$1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home bed and breakfast host
Rent a spare room in your home to overnight guests and offer a simple breakfast.
- C$1k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Short-stay suite or cottage rental
Furnish a separate suite, cottage or cabin and rent it by the night to visitors.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Mobile bartending company for weddings and events
Run a small team of bartenders and a portable bar for weddings and corporate events across your region.
- C$3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Full-service cottage rental management
Run a local agency that markets, cleans, checks in and looks after cottages for owners, all year round.
- C$4k-20k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Seasonal farm campsite
Rent a few tent and camper pitches on your working farm to summer holidaymakers, paid per night.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Pop-up live music nights in rented spaces
Host ticketed live shows in a rented hall, cafe or event space, without taking on a full venue lease.
- C$1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
About these ideas
Others use space you already own, like a short-stay rental of your spare suite or a home B&B with one to three guest rooms. Before choosing, work out where your money would actually go: equipment, insurance, furnishing, marketing or hiring a venue. Then check what your province and municipality require for food service, alcohol, short-term accommodation and signage. Think honestly about evenings and weekends, because hospitality often runs when other people are off work. Start with the idea that fits your skills, your space and your schedule.
More ideas
- Small-scale party and catering equipment hire
- Home-based bed and breakfast
- Weekly karaoke night at a partner venue
- Pop-up tapas nights
- Pop-up oxygen cocktail bar for events
- Pop-up animal cafe sessions
- Lesbian and queer women's pop-up bar night
- Pop-up LGBTQ+ bar nights
- Pop-up queer bar nights
- Pop-up cider bar at markets and events
- Walkers' bunkhouse beside your home
- Fish and chips pop-up dining nights
- Farm stay with a spare room or bunkhouse
- Portable escape room for events
Questions
Can I really start a hospitality business in Canada for under C$20,000?
Often, yes, if you keep fixed costs low. Pop-ups, event-based formats and renting space you already own avoid big lease commitments. Build a simple budget covering equipment, insurance, permits, supplies and marketing, and add a cushion for slow weeks.
What licences and permits should I check before I start?
Requirements vary by province and municipality, so check locally. Things to look into include food handler certification, health inspections, liquor licensing or special occasion permits, business registration, and insurance. Your local public health unit and city hall are good first contacts.
Do I need to check rules for short-term rentals or B&Bs?
Yes, it is worth checking. Many municipalities have zoning, registration or principal-residence rules for short-stay accommodation, and provinces may have tax or licensing requirements. Also review your mortgage, condo bylaws, lease terms and home insurance before taking guests.